On Creating your Library

[Scythe13]

Has nobody figured out that solar can be easily attached to a Kindle? Want to go even wilder? A kindle will store data for as long as it's around. So, if you charge it, that'll last about 2 weeks or more, which will provide enough time to get a sunny day and recharge it again. There's a nutty idea! Haha, I'm just being awkward.

A lot can be said for all the various kinds of data storage. Whether it's books, printed, or digital, the point is, it's good to have access to good knowledge.

With all the concepts and ideas, one of the major things to take into account is space and expenses.

If you have very little space, books will be an issue. We have a library (the front room) which houses around 1000 books. Some are prepping, and some are just awesome books. However, if you're like me, you'll want as much info for each quid you spend. I'm with TOF in that I love a good charity shop search. Think of it as being like a treasure hunt. Makes it more fun.

However, if you have very little space, you'd need to be selective of the information sources you stock up on.

With limited space and reasonable finances, it would be easier to save up and get a Kindle plus a small solar charger. Then download PDF's and other data sources. Providing you looked after the device, you'd be happily rewarded with a depth of data, quick access via search option, and a long life and battery usage.

If you had books, you'd need to have the space to store them, but also you'd do well to have read them and made mental notes of which books contained what information. I know which books have the best quick guides to stitching skin and I know roughly where they are on the shelves. If you just have a load of books that you haven't at least skimmed over, you'll have issues with what has what info and where in the book it is.

Whatever your situation, a good foundation of solid books is the best place to start.

Once you have a foundation built, you'd do well to double up the data and start learning it by heart. Learning word for word isn't too important. It's the concepts and skills you need to have down-pat.

There is nothing wrong with downloading another file or collecting another book. Some might be useless for yourself, but a team member might be really good with X skill, and the book could work as an awesome reminder for them.

The problem is, if you have all your eggs in one basket.

Fire destroys all your books, and you'll not be able to save them all. EMP destroys the Kindle, and you lose all the data it had. See the problem? If you can see the problem of thinking one system is better than the other, then you can also see the solution that you do not need to have the different data-sources separated. You are more than welcome to have a copy of every book in both solid and electrical format.

Using all the various data-systems in conjunction to complement each other is probably the best way to go.

But get a solid foundation of good quality books, medical, plant, survival, mechanical, etc, and grow your skills and list from there...whether that's digital, physical, or both. Providing you start, that's what's important.